Photoelectrically controlled loom protection



Dec. 29, 19573 A. c. KRUKQNIS PHOTOELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED LOOM PROTECTION Original Filed May 23, 1951 FIG.|

HIllIIWIIIIIIIWHHINll INN! INVENTOR ALEXANDER C.KRUKONIS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1953 PHOTOELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED LOOM PROTECTION Alexander 0. Krukonis, Auburn, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation of abandoned application Serial No. This application August 16, 1952, Serial No. 304,776

7 Claims. (Cl. 139341) 227,841, May 23, 1951.

1 This is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 227,841, filed May 23, 1951, now abandoned, for a Photoelectrically Controlled Loom Protection.

This invention relates to improvements in loom protection means and it is the general object of the invention to provide for stopping the loom if a shuttle in its flight is not correctly placed to prevent an increase in the illumination of a photoelectric cell.

Loom protections of the mechanical type ordinarily require the shuttle to arrive at the shuttle box toward which it is traveling before indication of timely arrival of the shuttle can be given. In many instances this indication is given by the shuttle binder as it is moved by the shuttle. In such protections, however, it is necessary to delay indication of shuttle arrival until a point so late to stop the loom. 7

It is an important object of the present invena given point along its travel in time to prevent an increase in the illumination of a photoelectric cell. If the shuttle is late the increase in illumination occurs and electric circuit means controlled by the cell effects prompt loom stoppage.

It is another object of the invention to locate photoelectric cell and lamp elements on opposite sides of the shuttle path and provide means by which the lamp element can project a beam of light across the shuttle path to increase illumination of the cell element. The beam of light is located at a critical point in the path of the shuttle and if the latter is able to intercept the beam of light there will be no change in the illumination of the cell and the loom will continue to run, but if the shuttle is not able to intercept the beam of light loom stoppage will follow.

It is another object of the invention to provide loom stopping electricmeans including two parallel circuits for controlling a masterrelay,

in the loom cycle that very little time is available tion to be able to anticipate timely arrival of the a shuttle at the shuttle box if the shuttlepasses switches both of which are normally closed, one of said switches being opened periodically as already mentioned, and the other being opened incident to action of a control circuit in the event that illumination of a photoelectric cell is increased.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a loom, parts being broken away, having the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing thelay in full lines in the position which it occupies while the shuttle is in flight through the warp shed and in broken lines when the lay is at front center,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the shuttle and bobbin therein such as may be used with the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a form of electric circuit which can be utilized to carry the invention into effect.

Referring to Fig. 1, the loom has right and left loom-sides l and 2, respectively, which support a rocker shaft 3 for the right and left lay swords 4 and 5, respectively, which support the lay designated generally at 6. In the present instance the lay has a single shuttle box R at the right end thereof and a gang L of two shuttle box cells E and 8 at the left end thereof. The loom has two means to lay weft in a warp shed, shown here as ishuttles, one of which SI is shown in the loom shuttle box R and the other of which S2 is shown at the left end of the loom in the lower shuttle box cell 8.

The lay swings backwardly and forwardly in the loom in usual manner by power imparted to it one of these circuits being opened periodically by a loom controlled switch at the time the shuttle will be at said critical point if running on time. The switch when opening this circuit will close a contact to cause an increase in the illumination of the lamp for the photoelectric cell, thereby ,from a top shaft 10 through connectors one of .Which is shown at H in Fig. 2. The top shaft has a gear I2 secured thereto meshing with a gear l3 of twice its size secured to the bottom shaft [4. The latter shaft has right and left picking arms 1 5 and l 6 for cooperation with picking cams l1 and [8, respectively, operatively connected to picker sticks P! and P2, respectively.

The picker sticks operate one at a time and usually during the backward stroke of the lay when it is at or near its top center position, that is, approximately midway between its extreme front and back positions. Each picker stick when operating will propel the shuttle aligned with it from end of the loorn to the other end, causing to pass 'hrough a warp shed designated general at W, see Fig. 2, comprising upper and lowe pla es or groups of warp threads 2!! and 2 5. These threads pass through a reed 22 the lower end of which is positioned by the lay beam member 23 and the upper end of which is positioned. by ahand rail member 24. The latter is supported by arms 25 one of which is shown in Fig. 2 extending upwardly from the lay structure 6. The lay beam has a shuttle race 25 under the hand rail and along which the shuttles travel when in flight between shuttle box structures R and L.

At the time of shuttle picking the lay will be moving rearwardly, or to the right as viewed Fig. 2, will ordinarily reach its back center position while the shuttle is in flight through the warp shed. The lay will then start to move forwardly as the shuttle continues on its flight through the warp shed. If for any reason the shuttle should be traveling slower than usual, or should be stop ed in the warp shed, it will be necessary to effect prompt stoppage of the 100m in order to prevent the reed 22 frompushing the shuttle ionv dly through the warp shed and breaking some of the warp threads of the top and bottom thread groups 253 and 2!. It is the general purpose of the present invention to effect this stoppage of the loom should the shuttle fail to reach a given point in its travel along the lay at a given time in the cycle of the loom.

The shuttles may be as shown in Fig. 4 which shows shuttle Si and its bobbin Any other type of shuttle can be used, however, so as it has opaque parts, such as ends 23 and capable of interrupting a beam of light.

The matter thus far described may be constructed and. operated in the usual manner.

The loom driven by a motor 33 which as shown herein is provided with a pinion 3! meshing with a motor gear 32 fixed to the top shaft it. The motor is of the so-called stop and start type and whenever the motor is in operation the loom will be running and whenever the motor is stopped th loom will stop with it. The motor is controlled by electrical devices which need not be described in detail herein but which are contained in a panel or box $3, see Fig. 5, which in turn is controlled by a master relay 35.

The relay controls a master switch MS, see Fig. 5, having an armature or switch blade35 and a contact therefor. When the relay 34 is energized the blade 35 is in engagement with the contact and wires 3'! and 33 leading from the switch MS to the panel 33 are electrically connected and maintain the condition for continued running of the motor. If the relay 3t becomes deenergized spring 33 will open switch MS and the wires El and 3t will be electrically discon nected, whereupon the equipment within the panel will efiect very prompt stoppage of the motor and loom. The master relay 34 and its switch MS, and the equipment controlled by the switch may be considered to be loom governing means controlling motor and loom operation.

Loom stoppage may be efiected by any of the known electrically operating means for this purpose, such as by a magnetic brake, or by application of a so-called plugging current which will stop the motor almost instantly. The motor will ordinarily be operated by a three-phase alternatin current and the plugging may be effected by direct current. I do not Wish to be limited to any particular means for stopping the motor and it will be sufficient for the purposes of the invention if electric means operates to stop the motor upon deenergizaticn of the master relay 34.

Energization of the master relay 34 is controlled by two switches one of which is a loom controlled tin er switch designated at TS and the other of which is a shuttle controlled switch designated at SS. The timer switch includes a contact arm lta normally held against contact 4! by a spring 32 but moved away from the contact ll periodically by point of a earn it. The earn 2 is secured to a shaft #25, se Fig. mounted for rotation in a stationary stand 65 which is mounted on the left loom-side 2 as viewed stand 66 supports the contact :armAt andalso the contact ii A sprocket wheel 43 secured to the top shaft i0 is connected by a chain to another sprocket wheel 59 of the same size sprocket 8 secured to the shaft The cam therefore completes a rotation each pick or beat of the loom and the cam point 43 will open the timer switch TS at regularly recurring intervals each pick of the loom when the shuttle should be at given point in the path of its travel along the lay. I do not wish to be limited to the particular type of timer switch shown in Fig. 3, and it will be sufficient if the timer switch is such that it is normally closed but opens periodically.

The master relay 34 is in an electric circuit including a transformer 55, wire 56, wires '51 and 58, contact 2 arm and wire 53, back to the transformer. *During the greater part of the cycle of the loo-1n this circuit will be closed and the master relay will be maintained energized by current flowing through contact 4 5, but as already mentioned this circuit will lie-opened periodically and unless relay 35 is energized by closure of the switch SS at such times the relay will become deenergized. and efiect loom stoppage.

The'loom 'is provided with means for directing a beam of light across the shuttle race 26 and the path oi the shuttle, and as shown herein through the Warp shed. This beam of light may be provided by an electric lamp element 61 having a filam nt 32 and carried by a small stand -63 secured to the hand rail. The hand rail has a hole 64 therethrough below the lamp.

The lay beam 23 is provided with a hole 65 aligned with the hole 64, and a photoelectric cell unit or element supported on the under side of the lay beam is in the path of the beam of light originating with the filament 62 and passing downwardly through the hole 84, through the upper ancilower sheets 20 and 2! of warp threads, through shuttle race 26, and through the hole 55 inthe lay beam.

One side of lamp 5! is connected by wire in to one side of the transformer and the other side of the lamp is connected by wire '1! to a resistance R which is connected to thetransformer. A con-- tact i2 is connected to wire 7| and is positioned to be engaged by switch arm ii) when the latter is moved away from its normal position shown in full lines, Fig. 5, to a second position thereof shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, by cam point 43. During the greater part of the cycle of the loom electric current will flow through resistanceR in serieswith lamp 6 i but will be too weak to illun inate the lamp. When switch arm 48 engages contact '12 the resistance will be short circuit-ed and the current then flowing through the lamp will be large enough to increase the illumination of cell 66. The switch arm 40, the cam point 43 which moves it against contact 72 and the transas at former 55 are periodically acting means 'to increase the luminosity of the lamp 6|.

Two wires 80 and BI supplying preferably direct current are connected by resistances RI, R2 and R3 which are in series as shown in Fig. 5. Adjustable tap 82 is slidable alongthe resistance R2 and is connected to a resistance R4 which in turn is connected to a junction point 83. An electronic tube E preferably of the high vacuum type has a cathode 84, a control grid 85, and a plate 85. The plate is connected by wire 81 to a control relay 88 which when energized opens normally closed switch SS. The other side of the relay 88 is connected to the positively charged wire 80. The photoelectric tube 66 has an anode 90 connected by wire 9| to wire 8%) and has a cathode 92 connected by wire 93 to junction 83.

Normally, the control relay 88 is deenergized and its armature contact arm 95 engages contact 86 so that switch SS is closed. This condition exists because junction 83 and grid 85 are at a relatively low voltage due to the fact that cell 66 is not illuminated. When cam point 43 causes arm 40 to engage contact 12 the resistance R is short circuited and lamp Si is bright enough to effect a large increase into the illumination of cell 66 and the latter is able to transmit more electric current and the voltage of junction 83 and grid 85 is raised. The grid, being less negative than previously, permits enough current to flow through tube E to energize control relay 88, and switch SS will be opened. This latter condition exists if the illumination of cell 66 is increased, and since switch TS is open at this time the master relay will become denergized and the loom will stop. The photoelectric cell 66, the tube E, the control relay 88 and its contact arm 95, and the electric connections for these parts, may be considered to be electronic circuit means controlling the loom governing means.

Whether or not the periodic increase in brightness of lamp 6! results in increased illumination of the cell 66 will depend upon the position of the shuttle. If the latter is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, that is, able to cause a shadow on cell 66 and prevent an increase in its illumination, control relay 88 will remain unchanged and switch SS will remain closed to keep master relay 34 energized to maintain loom operation. This will happen if the shuttle is running on time and reaches the beam of light at the given time in the loom cycle when switch TS opens. If, on the other hand, the shuttle is running late or slow and is in the full line position, Fig. 5, when switch TS is opened, there will be an increase in illumination of cell 66 with resultant energization of control relay 88 and opening of switch SS, and the loom will be stopped.

When the shuttle is on time, therefore, switch SS remains closed to maintain closure of switch MS, but if the shuttle is late both switches TS and SS open practically simultaneously and switch MS opens to stop the loom.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an increase in the illumination of a photoelectric cell 66 is relied upon to stop the loom if the shuttle is runing slow, but if the shuttle is on time it casts a shadow on the cell to prevent an increase in its illumination. The single switch arm 40 serves the dual purpose of breaking one of the parallel circuits for the master relay and at the same time efiecting a change in the amount of light given oil by the lamp element 6|. If the shuttle interrupts the beam of light when the latter is bright the loom will continue to run, but if the beam is able to increase the light falling on the photoelectric cell before the shuttle arrives the loom will stop. Both switches TS and SS will normally be closed, and if switch SS remains closed while switch TS is open the loom will continue running. The master relay is controlled by two parallel electric circuits one of which includes wire 58, contact 4| and contact arm 40 and is opened periodically by loom operated cam point 43 and the other of which includes contact arm and contact 96 and is opened due to an increase in the illumination of the photoelectric cell 66.

' Having now particularly described and. ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In protection means for a loom operating with a shuttle which when running on time passes a given point along the path thereof at a given time in the loom cycle, loom governing means capable of eifecting continued loom operation or stoppage of the loom, electronic circuit means controlling the governing means including a photoelectric cell, periodically acting means tending to increase the illumination of said photoelectric cell at said time but prevented from doing so by the shuttle if the latter is running on time, said electronic circuit means being effective upon an increase in the illumination of said photoelectric cell to cause the governing means to stop the loom.

' 2. In protection means for a loom operating with a shuttle which when running on time passes a given point along the path thereof at a given time in the loom cycle, loom governing means capable of effecting continued loom operation or stoppage of the loom, electronic circuit means controlling the governing means including a photoelectric cell, and a light source means acting periodically at said time in the loom cycle to direct a beam or" light across said path at said point to increase the illumination of said cell to cause the governing means to stop the loom but prevented from doing so if the shuttle is running on time.

3. In protection means for a loom operating with a shuttle which when running on time passes a given point along the path thereof in a warp shed at a given time in the loom cycle, loom governing means capable of effecting continued loom operation or stoppage of the loom, electronic circuit means controlling the governing means including a photoelectric cell, periodically acting means tending to direct a beam of light through the warp shed to increase the illumination of said photoelectric cell at said time to stop the loom but prevented from doing so if the shuttle is running on time in the warp shed.

4. In protection means for a loom having a shuttle which moves along a path incident to loom operation, a photoelectric cell, loom governing means capable of effecting continued loom operation or loom stoppage, electronic circuit means including said photoelectric cell controlling sald governing means and effective upon an increase in the illumination of said cell at a given time in the loom cycle to cause the governing means to stop the loom and effective if the illumination of said cell at said time remains unchanged to cause said governing means to eifect continued loom operation, and light sourcemeans :tending periodically at said time in the loom cycle at a given point along the path of the shuttle to direct a beam of light onto the photoelectric cell to increase the illumination thereof, the shuttle if running on time arriving at said .given point at said time to prevent the light source .means from increasing the illumination of the cell, said light source means in the event that the shuttle fails to reach said point at .said time effecting an increase in the illumination of the photoelectric cell to effect loom stoppage by sai governing means.

5. .In protection means for a loom dependent for continued operation upon unchanged il-' lumination of a photoelectric cell at a given time in the loom cycle, means effective to stop the loom the illumination of the cell is changed at saidtime, means tending at said time to effects, change in the illumination of said cell, and a s uttle effective if running on time .to prevent said last named means from increasing the illumination of said cell.

.6. In protection means for a loom dependent for continued operation upon energization of 7a relay, electric means including an electric switch normally in one position to effect energization of the relay, periodically acting means to move said switch to a second position to effect deenergization of the relay, a photoelectric cell, electronic circuit means controlled by the cell effective if the illumination of the cell is unchanged when said switch is in said second position to maintain the relay energized, the electronic circuit means causing the relay to become deenergized if the illumination of said cell is changed when the switch is in said second position, an electric lamp tending when illuminated to change the illumination of the cell, means controlled by said switch effective when the latter is in said second position thereof to illuminate said lamp, and a shuttle effective if running on time to prevent said lamp from illuminating said cell while said switch is in said second position thereof.

'7. In protection means for a loom operating with a shuttle moving along a path thereof and continued operation of the loom being dependent upon energization of a relay, two parallel electric circuit means closure of either of which effects energization of the relay, a switch for one of said circuit means normally closed to effect energization of the relay by said one circuit means, means periodically opening said switch to open said one circuit means, 'a second switch for the other of said parallel circuit means normally closed to effect energization of the relay when the first switch is open, ph0toelectric circuit .means controlling the second switch including a photoelectric cell effective upon an increase of illumination of said cell to open said second switch, and means tending to increase the illumination of said cell when the first named switch is open by projecting a beam of light across said path but prevented from increasing illumination of the cell if the shuttle is in said beam of light.

ALEXANDER C. KRUKONIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,279,675 Gutman Apr. 14, 1942 2,442,178 Robb May 25, 1948 

